Epilogue #2
“It was two-tired!”
Light bloomed in the icy depths of his eyes as he grinned. I’d never tire of that smile, which he still graced me with too infrequently. “Ah, I see. You’ve been holding out on me.”
I shook my head. “I looked that one up today, in case I needed it.” I hesitated. “I might have bookmarked a site. You know, so I had some options.”
He swiped at the damp skin under my eye. “Ah, well. Karl would be proud. Did it help?”
I nodded. “A couple of months ago, I would have hated to admit that there’s magic in those puns. But Karl was really on to something. Your brother was a smart man.”
“He certainly was.”
Gunnar kissed me with such sweetness that I melted deeper into his embrace, wanting to stay there forever.
When we finally parted a few moments later, I blinked away the funk that hit me whenever I thought about my surgery, the loss, and my prognosis.
There had been some tough weeks, which was part of why we’d waited on our wedding.
Plus, Gunnar still had to officially propose.
Though we both knew he’d ask me and I’d say yes.
For now, instead of making our commitment front-page news, we enjoyed our deepening relationship.
Plus, I wanted nothing to detract from the team’s momentum.
They were three games from the Cup. While Gunnar had told me I was more important—and I could see the truth shining in his eyes—I’d gotten caught up in the excitement of my first championship run.
Gunnar, being the sweet man he didn’t want others to know he was, had indulged me, but I could tell he was impatient to cement our relationship.
Truth be told, I was impatient, too. Much as I enjoyed my work and the organization, I wanted more of the emotional security Gunnar offered.
That had once felt self-indulgent, but now, thanks to talks with the CATS, I understood that it was a normal response to my upbringing and my place in life.
Plus, as Naomi had said, “Putting a ring on that gorgeous man’s finger is a coup de grace I don’t think any of those ‘perpetual-bachelor’ people see coming. ”
During the past month, the CATS had stepped in and stepped up.
While my parents had loved me and told me often, this group of ladies showed me their love daily through their actions.
Vivian and I were especially close, and I’d talked to her almost daily since coming home after the ectopic pregnancy.
Being a nurse, Vivian had lots of thoughts.
..most of which turned out to be positive and helpful.
I swallowed as a lump formed in my throat, feeling so thankful to have such amazing women in my life.
“I want to get married soon,” Gunnar said. He ran his fingers through my hair with slow, steady strokes, and I sighed, soothed, by his ministrations.
“You still haven’t asked,” I pointed out, even as flutters bloomed in my belly. Is he going to ask me? Now? I bit my lip, shoving down the giddiness pressing against my breastbone.
“Hmm...” He rose from the couch and held out his hand. “Come with me.” I slid my hand into his warm, large palm, a shiver of delight skating over my nerves. This man made me so happy.
“Where are we going?” I asked as I trotted a half-step behind him.
“You’ll see.”
He opened the back door and led me outside—and into a magic fairyland of twinkle lights, flowers, and soft, sensual music.
“What…how?” I gawked.
“You’ve been busy—a bit distracted, even.” Gunnar tsked, but his cool eyes danced with growing amusement. “A rookie mistake.”
“And you took advantage?” I asked, tipping my head back as the smile I’d held in stretched across my lips. I loved bantering with this man.
“Of you? Never.” He nipped at my earlobe.
“You mean the world to me, Zaila. And I know it’d probably be smarter to wait so the news cycle doesn’t mix our personal life and the team’s, but, honestly, I don’t care.
You’re what matters. I hate that you don’t wear your ring when you go to work.
I hate that I can’t tell every man I belong to you. ”
My heart melted more at those sweet words. Gunnar empowered me—showed me how to advocate for myself—every day. And here he was, doing so again while he proposed.
“So, I don’t want to wait.” His pale gaze held mine as he pulled out my ring—the one he’d given me last month.
He must have gone up to our room, into our closet, and taken the ring out of its box.
“I want this on your finger, my promise to you that you can look at every day. I want you to remember that you’re the most important person in my world, and that I’m happiest with you at my side.
So…will you wear my ring to work and the game tomorrow?
Will you show the world how much I love you? ”
I cupped his lean cheeks as I rose on my toes, our lips just touching when I murmured, “Yes.”
His mouth curved upward into a grin before he tugged me closer and kissed me breathless. He slid the ring onto my finger and pulled away just long enough to spin me closer.
Hat Trick, visible through the large windows, barked and wagged his tail.
I laughed and kissed him again. “What do you think about Hat Trick being ring bearer?”
Gunnar grimaced. “I think it’s fifty-fifty that your mutt eats or loses the rings.”
I bit my lip to hold in a giggle. “So…you love the idea?”
His eyes crinkled. “I do.”
I snuggled into his chest as I admired my ring. Gunnar held me, swaying to the music. I loved him like this—relaxed, unguarded, mine. “Can we get married at the end of the month?”
He rested his cheek atop my head. “If that’s what you want, we can make it happen.”
“At home,” I said. “I know we could go somewhere fancy, but I want to be in our home, with our friends who have become our family when we become a family.” I clasped his large, callused hand in mine, imagining a wedding ring on his finger.
“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
“Then we should go to Sweden,” I said, tipping my head back so I could gauge his reaction. “Hat Trick will love the ocean.”
Gunnar cursed under his breath, but there was a happy gleam in his eye that he didn’t bother to hide.
“You know what I love most about you, Gunnar?”
He shook his head, his expression open and yearning. We craved this connection with each other, and we’d worked past our own damn selves to get here.
“I love how you put me first, make me feel valued.” I kissed him. “Loved.” Kiss. “Wanted.” Kiss.
“You are all those things, Rookie. And more.” He leaned in closer, his cheekbone brushing mine as we danced under the lights and stars, twinkling into the darkened sky. “You, Zaila Alice Monroe almost Evaldson, are the single most precious thing in this world.”